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Queens Park Rangers have confirmed that Charlie Austin will return to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on a permanent basis this summer.

What’s the latest?

In a statement posted on the QPR website, the club revealed that the 31-year-old will be linking up with Mark Warburton’s side once again in the coming weeks after signing on a free transfer, following the centre-forward’s release from West Bromwich Albion.

Upon completing the deal, Austin said: “I am really pleased to get it done and to be able to continue my journey here.

“With the way we finished the season – and how I feel about the club hasn’t changed – I wanted to be part of it and as soon as the opportunity was available, I wanted to get this done as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Warburton also appeared over the moon with the arrival of the striker, suggesting that his signing will help to attract further targets to west London this summer.

The 58-year-old said: “Not only does this signing help with future targets, but it also helps with current players we have at the football club – it shows we have ambition. I am absolutely delighted to have him on board.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Austin was during his four-month loan spell at QPR last season, the fact that Amit Bhatia has secured the signing of the £1.8m-rated forward on a permanent basis is sure to have fans of the club buzzing.

Indeed, over his 21 Championship appearances for Warburton’s side, the 31-year-old scored eight goals, registered one assist and created two big chances, as well as taking an average of 2.3 shots and making 0.5 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the £52k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as the QPR’s eighth-best performer in the second tier, as well as leaving him as the club’s joint-second top league goalscorer – despite only spending half a season in west London.

And, with QPR ranking third in the Championship table since the turn of the year, the fact Austin will still be playing his football at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium next season will provide a huge boost to Warburton’s hopes of mounting a promotion push with the club in their 2021/22 campaign, as well as helping to attract further signings to the Rs this summer – as the manager suggests.

As such, the signing of the centre-forward would appear to be a huge step in the right direction for QPR, who very much seem to be a club on the up at present.

In other news: QPR dealt big blow in pursuit of “immense” £5.4k-p/w machine that’ll leave fans gutted

The USMNT striker could make a big move this summer after a very public falling out with Bundesliga side Augsburg.

Ricardo Pepi looks set to bet on himself this summer.

It wouldn't be the first time he's done that, looking back. It was just last year that the young forward wagered that he was ready for a leap to the Bundesliga and a move to one of the division's worst teams – one desperate for a new star.

Both he, and Augsburg, lost that bet.

It was, in a word, catastrophic. Pepi never got going in Germany, effectively costing himself a World Cup spot, and Augsburg were stuck with a€18 million (£15m/$20m) signing they had no clue what to do with. Both sides swung big, both sides missed.

Now, less than a year later, they find themselves on opposing sides of another crossroad. On one side, Pepi, whose spell in the Netherlands has him feeling ready for a new challenge; on the other, Augsburg, who feel they've been disrespected and have no desire to let him leave.

What happens next will set the tone for the rest of Pepi's career. He's still just 20, but this move, this next big move, will likely be the difference between success or failure at Europe's top levels.

And Pepi is ready to push all of his chips into the middle of the table yet again, but will Augsburg be willing to let it happen? We'll find out.

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  Pepi's initial wager

  After lighting up MLS, Pepi found himself emerging as the U.S. men's national team's new star. He was the striker of the future, headed to the World Cup where he'd lead the line in Qatar.

  And of course, as he grew into that role, European clubs came calling. It became a matter of when, not if, Pepi would make the leap across the Atlantic to join a club that would give him the chance to make the leap in his own career.

  He inevitably settled on Augsburg, a club struggling in the Bundesliga and desperately in need of goals. They put down big money to sign Pepi, thinking they'd landed the striker of the present and future who would lead them to better things.

  It didn't happen.

  Pepi failed to scored across 16 appearances and, although the club narrowly survived relegation, it was clear that this partnership wasn't working out.

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  A lifeline in the Netherlands

  In September, Augsburg announced that Pepi would spend the 2022-23 season on loan with Groningen. For the German side, it was a chance to give Pepi a change of scenery that would, maybe, restore some of his depleted value. For Pepi, it was a step back down the ladder that would allow him to play in a league that could be more his pace.

  There were initial concerns. Groningen, like Augsburg, aren't the strongest side in their league. They aren't a club that is dominating possession, creating chances and scoring goals, finding themselves in the lower echelons of the Eredivisie. Would this just be a repeat for Pepi, who was so often starved of service in Augsburg?

  As it would turn out, it isn't. Pepi has scored 10 goals in the Eredivisie this season, tied for seventh-most in the league. Everyone else in double digits plays for the league's top eight teams. Pepi and Groningen, meanwhile, sit second-bottom in 17th.

  Groningen may very well get relegated this season, but its no fault of Pepi's, as the striker has been one of the squad's only bright spots. He's been involved in 13 of the team's 27 total goals, too. If the club survives, it'll be thanks to him.

  Pepi is scoring goals again, for both club and country, having made his USMNT return in March. And that brings us to everyone's favorite question, especially for players on loan: what next?

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  A war of words over his next move

  Pepi and his agent say they know what's next: there's no way in hell the striker is going back to Augsburg.

  Speaking to recently, the two said that the intention is to go elsewhere, citing disrespect and broken promises from the German club.

  "For me it is clear: I do not want to go back to Augsburg. I have already let the club know that," Pepi said. "I have been promised and promised things that have not been fulfilled. Then it is simple: then you have to look for another club."

  His agent Jaime Garcia added: "We appreciate the investment the club has made, but once he came in, it seemed they didn't know how to handle such an investment. The manager didn't speak to him, the director wanted him so badly that he twice did not show up for an appointment with Ricardo that he had scheduled himself.

  "The coach talks about him at a press conference, but does not respond to a message Ricardo sent him for four days. Is that respectful? But maybe he knew that Ricardo wanted to tell him that he doesn't want to return to Augsburg. And then an 18-year-old boy from Texas is criticized for not showing anything in the average 28 minutes of playing time. Tell me: what can you show in such a short period of time?"

  The club, meanwhile, is unconvinced by Pepi's latest comments, with sporting director Stefan Reuter pushing back in a recent interview.

  "Ricardo has a long-term contract with us. With his qualities, he fits in very well with our style of play. The coach also thinks highly of him. Of course I understand what his agent has said,” Reuter told "But the facts are clear and there have been no inquiries, let alone offers, for him so far. So a sale is not an issue for us at the moment. As always, we would consider concrete and adequate offers. But we will discuss that directly with him and the agent, not through the public."

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  Where next for Pepi?

  Should he move on from Augsburg, it appears he'll have no shortage of suitors.

  Pepi has been linked with the Premier League, with differing reports as to whether or not the striker himself wants the switch. It would represent another big bet from Pepi, who could quickly find himself in a situation similar to what he experienced at Augsburg if he doesn't hit the ground running.

  Notably, though, he's been linked to two Dutch giants – PSV and Feyenoord. A shift up the Eredivisie ladder makes significant sense for a player of Pepi's age. With either club, Pepi would be making a big jump to a big club, with Feyenoord currently leading the league and PSV in second. He'd be playing with a much better team with much better players, and getting European experience. As a striker, what else could you want?

  Starring in the Europa League or Champions League is a quick way for a player to put himself on the radar of the real giants, and both Feyenoord and PSV have sent plenty of players to those big-hitters in the past.

  It is the decision Pepi will face this summer: whether to take a small step or a giant leap. That all depends, though, on whether or not Augsburg allow him to make that decision at all.

Graham Potter's midfield overhaul will be centred around one or two big-name signings, but who is the ideal candidate to transform the team?

Chelsea have stayed true to their Kings Road roots with their thriftless January transfer spree, but while their luxury attacking acquisitions have dominated the headlines, a new midfield enforcer is top of their shopping list.

It's no secret that it is an area of the pitch that has needed a revamp for some time, with current incumbents Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek regularly struggling for either form, fitness or both.

Among the plethora of options in the shop window, three have stood out in particular – although the Blues' expensive taste means none are included in the January sales.

Chelsea seem to have honed the options down to Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice and, such are the funds at the disposal of their new owners, it may not even be a case of either/or.

None will come cheap, but which of the club's main midfield targets is best placed to step into Graham Potter's side?

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  Declan Rice

  There was a time when a move to Chelsea appeared inevitable for Declan Rice, but if the Blues now want to bring back a player who they infamously shunned at academy level, they will need to wrangle his gaze away from table-topping Arsenal.

  Labelling Rice a defensive midfielder would be doing him a disservice; since breaking into the West Ham first team, he has adapted and developed his game to become an almost-complete box-to-box Premier League midfielder. Although he isn't a regular scorer, Rice's goal and assist numbers belie his attacking influence at West Ham, where he creates roughly one chance per game in the Premier League.

  The 24-year-old strangely doesn't feel like the most glamorous signing, perhaps as a result of his Englishness and the unglamourous work he often carries out for the Hammers, and the extent to which Rice would be transformative for Chelsea's midfield is debatable – especially given his club's plight this season.

  But as a proven performer in England's top flight he represents a safe bet, and remarkably he would cost similar to – if not less than – the other names on this list at £80 million ($98.5m).

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  Enzo Fernandez

  glamour signing.

  History dictates that it is rarely a good idea to splurge big money on the breakout star of a major tournament when the dust has barely settled on the event, but Chelsea REALLY want Fernandez and could be willing to meet his £106 million ($130m) release clause to get him.

  In truth, it's difficult not to get swept up in the hype. Despite being just 22, the boy can do it all.

  Fernandez averages more than 100 attempted passes per game in the Primeira Liga, doesn't shirk a challenge, regularly creates opportunities for his team-mates (seven assists so far this season) and is a goal threat himself – as he demonstrated with his stepover and sublime curling finish against Mexico at the World Cup.

  Although there is a risk attached – as is always the case with a big-money signing, especially from a so-called lesser league – when you consider who could truly be transformative, Fernandez ticks the box.

  Chelsea lack midfielders who make enough of an impact at both ends of the pitch, and Fernandez has the potential to change that with immediate effect.

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  Moises Caicedo

  Links to Moises Caicedo were inevitable once Graham Potter was named Chelsea manager back in September.

  Another monumental success story for Brighton's scouting department, Caicedo has been a revelation since breaking into the first team midway through last season.

  Like Rice, stats certainly don't tell the whole tale of the 21-year-old's playing style; a defensive midfield destroyer in the truest sense who lives for crunching sliding tackles, the Ecuador international is also crucial in launching attacks from deep and progressing the play. Don't believe us? Have a look at his pinpoint, sweeping switch of play against Everton.

  Chelsea certainly lack a player with his attributes when Kante is out injured – which is becoming increasingly often – and Caicedo could be his successor.

  In normal circumstances, this would seem a shrewd signing regardless, but his eye-wateringly inflated £75 million ($93m) valuation is justifiably a deterrent, even for the free-spending Blues. When options like Rice and Fernandez are available for a similar fee, this doesn't seem like a cheap alternative.

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  Who would best compliment Jude Bellingham?

  Away from Chelsea's search for a new anchor, they are also in the market for a more advanced central operator in an overhaul of their midfield.

  Alongside basically every other elite club in Europe, Jude Bellingham will be the man who tops their list of targets in the summer. They face a hell of a battle to sign him, but their spending so far under Todd Boehly's stewardship suggests they will be up for the fight.

  As such, the club's new transfer strategists – technical director Christopher Vivell and director of global talent and transfers Paul Winstanley – will be searching for players they feel will best compliment Bellingham's coveted skillset.

  This is perhaps where Rice stands out as the best option. Bellingham excelled alongside the West Ham talisman at the World Cup in a well-balanced midfield three including Jordan Henderson, marauding forward as his two colleagues did more of the dirty work. That kind of setup would suit Chelsea nicely with Rice slotting in alongside Kovacic or Kante, with Bellingham ahead of them.

  By the same token, Caicedo could fill a role which is similar to the one he plays for Brighton, although it would inevitably take more time for him to develop a rapport with the England international.

  Fernandez, on the other hand, is perhaps too similar in profile to Bellingham for them to supplement each other. Rather than just sit, the Argentine has shown in his fledgling career that he is not content to watch attacks from afar – he wants to advance and make attacking contributions too. Indeed, his league goal, assist and chance creation stats are not dissimilar to Bellingham's so far in 2022-23.

  By signing Fernandez, Chelsea could negate the need to even pursue Bellingham and save themselves time and some serious cash.

Tottenham Hotspur bolstered their European claims with an emphatic victory in North London on Sunday afternoon and that was thanks to the phenomenal display from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Ryan Mason’s side moved into sixth place on goal difference and know that two more victories in their final two matches of the Premier League season will secure a place in the Europa League next season.

Spurs talisman Harry Kane moved into the sole lead for the Golden Boot with his 22nd league goal of the campaign, taking his total to 32 in all competitions, and will quite rightly take a lot of the plaudits for his goalscoring performance.

But the great Dane in the heart of midfield was arguably Mason’s best player on the day.

It was Hojbjerg who provided a high-quality assist for the England international to open the scoring, feeding in a delightful ball over the top for Kane to run in, casually push off Gary Neville’s comical Man of the Match Conor Coady to bag right on half-time.

He then found the net himself just after the hour mark, following up a parried effort to double their advantage and clinch all three points.

But there was so much more than a goal and assist to his game as he was once again one of Spurs’ most influential players in the engine room.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-latest-spurs-manager-update-gossip-transfer-rumours-daniel-levy-enic-mason-mourinho-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, managerial gossip, transfer rumours and more!”]

Hojbjerg often dictates play with his cool, calm composure on the ball and that was seen in him managing a squad-high 102 touches, 17 more than anyone else, and 81 passes at a success rate of 94%, via SofaScore.

In addition to his rare creative outing, in which he provided two key passes and three shots, he also did his usual industrious defensive work and it’s that sort of ability that often goes unnoticed, especially when Kane is firing them home.

No other Spurs star managed more tackles (three) or interceptions (two) than Hojbjerg, whilst he also chipped in with one clearance and one block, as per SofaScore.

Alasdair Gold at football.london appeared to agree, calling him “Spurs’ best player on the day” and he also suggested he “did the dirty work” in midfield, too.

The £45m-rated beast stole the show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Spurs handed gutting injury blow, key man likely out for the season…

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Featuring cutting-edge picks and timeless classics from Umbro, adidas, Nike and more

If you're looking to get onto a football pitch for the first or the five-hundredth time, it's always a great occasion to pick up a fresh set of football boots. There are more boots than ever to choose from today, but arguably, you still can't beat the feel of an old-fashioned leather boot.

Today's leather boots come with all the added features of modern boots, so you won't miss out on any cutting-edge improvements that have been made over the years.

We've rounded up the best leather boots you can get on the market today, depending on what you want out of your game – alongside answering the most commonly asked questions by players looking to get the most out of their purchase.

Are leather boots best?

Whether leather boots are better than their synthetic is debatable. Still, it's hard to deny that they produce superior stability widely treasured by some of the game's leading players.

Their leather uppers tend to be rigid in support and able to weather frequent usage. In contrast, their construction makes them heavier than the rest of their counterparts – a double-edged sword that makes them typically heavy-set but more traditionally durable.

Their well-honed construction, honed over decades of boot-making techniques, means that while some consider them old-fashioned, they stand the test of time.

What surfaces can leather boots be used on?

Leather boots can be used on any surface, so what kind of leather boot you need depends on what surface you intend to play on.

A studded option is preferable if you're playing on turf surfaces, while indoor courts will require a springy rubber sole instead. Luckily, leather boots can be found for every terrain.

If you're looking for football boots suitable on other surfaces, read GOAL's comprehensive round-up of the 

best football boots in 2023.

What is the difference between leather boots and others?

Several differences – some large, some subtle – exist between leather boots and boots designed from other materials. Studded soles, for example, are a non-starter for indoor courts.

Leather boots tend to be wrought with more obvious markings and may well be marginally heavier than expected – but they will still deliver the same functionality and support found with other boots, possibly even more so. With that in mind, here are the best leather football boots you can get.

• Shop: The best leather football boots

  Best overall leather boots

  adidas Copa Sense+

  adidas$69.99 at Soccer.com

  adidas' Copa Sense+ is a top-of-the-line leather shoe that delivers superb comfort and ball control – balancing stability and softness for a top-drawer moulded finish that takes the breath away.

  A suede-like inner lining beneath a leather Primeknit upper delivers the quality material touch you'd demand. At the same time, foam SensePods bulk up the space between heel and ankle to offer more command. Meanwhile, its laceless finish means you'll be able to strike the ball sweetly.

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• Best budget-friendly leather boots

  adidas Copa Sense.4

  adidas$49.99 at Soccer.com

  There's no need to break the bank for a pair of leather boots – and these adidas shoes, designed for the traditional firm ground terrain, are proof that you do not need to skimp on quality when buying a great pair.

  You can count on the adidas Copa to help you be one with the ball and sharpen your football senses. An all-lace fastening for a snug fit with a comfy synthetic upper reduces distractions when making those sharp turns on the pitch, leaving your opponents in the dust – designed in primarily black colour, with white adidas embellishments throughout for a classy finish.

• Best firm ground leather boots

  adidas Copa Mundial

  adidas$159.99 at Soccer.com

  The Copa Mundial, made famous on the stages of Spain in 1982, is still a superb leather boot all these years later. The fact that it has stood the test of time is a testament to the quality infused throughout its design.

  The premium, soft K-leather upper boldly features adidas' iconic three stripes, while the signature tongue covers the top of the laces and the inner is lined with nylon. It's simple but effective, providing durability, comfort and a cushioned first touch.

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• Best indoor court leather boots

  Umbro Speciali Eternal Team NT

  Umbro£85.00 at Umbro

  Those who play their games in sports halls can also get a top pair of leather boots with the Umbro Speciali Eternal Team NT, which delivers on its promises.

  Marrying a full-grain leather vamp and memory foam insert to create a comfortable fit provides intelligent response over challenging terrain – and a removable sockliner insert helps mould it to the foot with satisfaction.

Nottingham Forest centre-back Joe Worrall may be set to stay at the City Ground this summer, despite a host clubs being interested in him.

What’s been said?

In a recent post on Twitter, after being awarded as the Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Club Player of the Year and the Gedling Branch Player of the Year, the 24-year-old discussed how honoured he was to pick up the trophies, as well as commenting on the club’s below-par performances in the Championship this season.

However, despite the reported summer interest of teams such as West Ham United, Norwich City and Burnley, the defender then appeared to drop a rather large hint regarding his future at Forest, claiming that next season is a chance for him and the Garibaldi to achieve something special.

He said: “Extremely honoured to pick up these awards, I would like to thank everybody for your support this season. This season, off the back of the last, has been disappointing and way below par from us all. Next season is a chance to try and achieve something special. Thank you!”

Fans will be buzzing

As Worrall points out, Forest’s 2020/21 Championship campaign has been one that is not likely to live long in the memory of the City Ground faithful, with the Reds finishing in an extremely disappointing 17th place in the league standings.

However, despite the team’s general poor performances, Worrall still managed to impress over his 31 Championship appearances from the heart of Chris Hughton’s defence, with the £3.6 million-rated centre-back helping his side to keep 12 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.1 interceptions, 0.8 tackles and 4.2 clearances per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 6.94 – ranking him as the club’s fifth-best performer in the second tier.

As such, Worrall’s hint that he could remain at the club next season is something that is likely to leave the Garibaldi fans buzzing, as it would very much appear, if Hughton is to have any hope of mounting a promotion push next season, the player labelled by Steven Gerrard as a “leader” will be a crucial part of any success the club may have going forwards.

In other news: Forest handed devastating blow over £3.6m-rated gem dubbed “one of the most talented” – opinion

Who took their chance to stake a claim for a starting spot as the European champions rounded off an amazing year with games against Japan and Norway?

England closed out a memorable 2022 by maintaining their unbeaten record under head coach Sarina Wiegman, who still hasn't lost a game in charge of the Lionesses since she took over in September 2021.

The European champions' final camp until February saw them travel to Spain for friendlies against Japan and Norway, resulting in two performances of vastly contrasting quality.

In the first, they were fantastic, winning 4-0 thanks to a clinical and dominant display. However, England disappointed in a 1-1 draw with Norway, with the Lionesses conceding a sloppy second-half equaliser to a team down to 10 players.

With a total of six players having to miss one or both games for various reasons, and three youngsters making their debuts, this was an international break where Wiegman saw a lot of different players in her team.

So, who had a good week? And who failed to impress? GOAL takes a look below…

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  WINNER: Chloe Kelly

  October wasn't the best camp that Chloe Kelly has had for England, but her response to that disappointment has been superb.

  Against Japan, she scored an absolute thunderbolt of a goal and was arguably the best player on the pitch.

  Four days later, Kelly was great again, whipping in a sublime cross for Rachel Daly to head home the opening goal.

  It was one of several fantastic deliveries the Manchester City winger provided on the night, despite England being unable to add to their goal tally.

  Kelly might scored the goal that won the Euros for the Lionesses this past summer, but she is still battling for a starting spot in this team.

  A camp like this one will do her chances of breaking into the XI no harm at all.

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  LOSER: Jordan Nobbs

  It was a delight to see Jordan Nobbs' name on the England squad list earlier this month, with her excellent form for Arsenal rightly rewarded with a recall.

  The midfielder only made her first start of the season for the Gunners in late October but she quickly made her mark with tremendous strikes against Zurich and West Ham, before putting in a commanding display against Leicester in the final Women's Super League round before this international break.

  Battling for fitness and minutes at club level, Nobbs hasn't featured much under Wiegman and her injury woes hit again when she was forced to withdraw from the squad on the day they all met up.

  Hopefully, it will not be anything serious and she can maintain her good form heading into a World Cup year.

• WINNER: Ebony Salmon

  There is a lot of excitement among England fans about Ebony Salmon's talent, despite a relative lack of meaningful in-game opportunities with the Lionesses.

  However, those chances are now starting to come, and she really took advantage in the win over Japan.

  The score was 2-0 when Salmon, who scored nine goals in 13 games for the Houston Dash this year, stepped onto the pitch with less than half an hour to play. When the full time whistle went, it was 4-0, with the substitute having two assists to her name.

  The first was a well-disguised and perfectly-weighted pass to slip Ella Toone through on goal, with the Manchester United star doing the rest. But it was the second that really caught the eye.

  With the game ticking into stoppage time, Salmon chased down a seemingly lost cause of a ball, put the defender under pressure by the corner flag, won the ball back and drove into the box, where she squared it to Jess Park to score on her England debut.

  It showed her great pace, strength, attitude, work-rate and excellent decision-making all in just a few seconds – and it would certainly have impressed Wiegman.

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  LOSER: Lotte Wubben-Moy

  Lotte Wubben-Moy was another player who came into this camp in good form and deserving of an opportunity to shine for her country.

  With England captain and Arsenal team-mate Leah Williamson on the sidelines, the 23-year-old has stepped up at club level in her place and played very well to help her team sit at the top of the WSL table.

  Alex Greenwood, the Man City defender, has assumed Williamson's place for the Lionesses in recent games but with her missing the game against Japan, the door seemed to have opened up for Wubben-Moy to impress.

  However, she was an unused substitute for that game and before fans could see if that would mean she'd get minutes against Norway instead, the centre-back withdrew from the squad with a minor injury.

  Just like with Nobbs, it was a shame for such bad luck to hit her at this time as the form she has been in has been superb and this could've been an opportunity for her to stake her claim for a place in Wiegman's XI.

Tim Cahill leads the way for Australia at international level

Australia might not have the history that a lot of other countries have when it comes to the beautiful game, but they have sure had some high-profile names represent them at the international stage over the years.

Just think Harry Kewell.

Or Mark Viduka.

Yet even though the two former Premier League stars got plenty of goals, they are not among Australia's 10 highest-ever goal scorers.

But who is Australia's most lethal attacker ever then?

Let's take a look!

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  1Tim Cahill | 50 goals

  The greatest goalscorer Australia has produced with 50 international goals, Tim Cahill was part of the national team setup for 14 years between 2004 to 2018.

  His first goal for the Socceroos came as part of a brace against Tahiti in May 2004, while Cahill scored two goals each at the World Cup in 2006 and 2014.

  Cahill's stunning goal against Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup is remembered to this day as he beat Jasper Cillessen with an incredible left-footed volley.

  The Everton legend's most lethal performances for the Socceroos came when he netted hat-tricks against Fiji and Bangladesh respectively.

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• Nigel Marple
  

  2Damian Mori | 29 goals

  Part of Australia's national team for a decade between 1992 and 2002, Damian Mori made his debut against Solomon Islands in September 1992.

  The Adelaide City legend scored his first international goal against Tahiti in just his second game for the Socceroos and he scored a total of 29 goals in 45 caps spanning just under 10 years, making him the second-highest goal scorer for Australia.

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  3Archie Thompson | 28 goals

  Third on the list of Australia's all-time top goal scorers with 28 goals in 51 matches is Archie Thompson.

  The New Zealand-born striker featured for the Socceroos at the 2001 and 2005 Confederations Cup, the 2004 OFC Nations Cup, the 2006 World Cup, the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics.

  Thompson holds the all-time goal-scoring record in a single international match, netting 13 times in Australia's memorable 31-0 win against American Samoa in 2001.

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  4John Aloisi | 27 goals

  John Aloisi made his debut for Australia on March 12, 1997 in a friendly match against Macedonia, with arguably his best performance coming in a 22-0 win against Tonga, a game in which he scored six goals.

  Aloisi featured at the 2006 World Cup and scored in their opening game against Japan, helping them reach the knockout stages from a group that also held Brazil and Coatia.

  The former Osasuna man scored 27 goals over 55 games in his 11-year stint with Australia.

Many Wolves fans have been left to bemoan an update from Tim Spiers on Willy Boly.

As per a tweet from The Athletic journalist, the former FC Porto ace is in a ‘bad way’ as he is suffering from the after-effects of dealing with Covid-19.

Spiers also relayed some comments made by Nuno Espirito Santo on the situation, as the Portuguese boss confirmed that the central defender is in a ‘tough moment’, which is why he was not able to train with the first-team squad.

This will come as yet another blow for the Midlands club given that they have already lost Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto for large spells, and Boly could well follow them.

The Ivory Coast international ranks highly among his teammates in terms of tackles (1.6), interceptions (1.4), clearances (4.2) and blocks (0.6) averaged in the Premier League so far in the 2020/21 term (Whoscored), and so is clearly an important player for the Wanderers.

Wolves fans on Spiers’ Boly update

These WWFC supporters bemoaned the update on Twitter, with one fan claiming that they were ‘gutted’ while another went as far as to claim that his situation was ‘horrible’:

“Not good, had it in the Autumn and while it cleared up after about 10 days it took weeks before I could start doing proper exercise again, hope he gets well soon, horrible situation for him after the season he’s had”

Credit: @Andyrewjw

“Gutted for him his health is more important than anything, just hope he does recover.”

Credit: @_DazzlingDave

“This is very worrying. Neves has also seemed to really struggle in the last couple of games, seems like both need a long rest to recover!”

Credit: @JoshDale_7

“Can this season get any worse?”

Credit: @Ianph61

“Worried about his long-term prognosis.”

Credit: @ClimerGuido

“Precisely why international friendlies and games shouldn’t of gone ahead. Hope he recovers.”

Credit: @ZHollowayyy

In other news, find out what damning stat has left Wanderers fuming here!

The Brazil U-23 team defeated Germany via a penalty shootout in which captain Neymar scored the decisive goal…

Brazil defeated Germany 5-4 on penalties in the final of the men's football tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after the game had ended 1-1 at regulation time.

It was the Selecao's first soccer gold medal at the Games after Brazil had been on the podium on five occasions previously, including three silver medals between 1984 and 2012. To top it off, Neymar scored the winning penalty for the hosts after losing the final at the 2012 London Olympics.

Here, Goal takes a look at where the Brazil 2016 Olympics gold medal winning team is now.

MoWa Press

• Lucas Figueiredo / MoWA Press
  

  1Uilson

  Then from Atletico Mineiro, he was the second-choice goalkeeper at the 2016 Olympic Games but did not have a chance to guard the net even for a single shot.

  Now, at the age of 27, he plays for Coimbra, a small club in his hometown.

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• Celso Junior/Getty Images
  

  2Felipe Anderson

  The former Lazio attacker was deployed as a versatile player in attack, and he recorded an assist from four games at the 2016 Rio Games.

  Now, at the age of 28, he has made a return to Lazio from West Ham after a loan at Porto.

• Lucas Figueiredo/MoWA Press
  

  3Thiago Maia

  The defensive midfielder from Santos made a total of three appearances at the 2016 Rio Games including a start in the 2-0 win against Colombia.

  At the age of 24, he is now on loan at Flamengo from French side Lille.

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• Lucas Figueiredo/MoWa Press
  

  4Rodrigo Dourado

  The midfielder from Internacional did not have much role to play at the 2016 Olympic Games, taking to the field for just 11 minutes in the game against Denmark.

  At the age of 27, elevated to the position of captain, he still plays for Internacional.